Assistant Counsel 051024 at New York State Gaming Commission

Duties:

Reporting to the Deputy Counsel, the Assistant Counsel will perform the following duties and tasks:

• Advise Commission staff on general legal issues and other matters related to commercial gaming, lottery, horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, charitable gaming, video lottery gaming, and Indian gaming regulation;
• Perform research and keep current on best practices worldwide for commercial gaming and Indian gaming regulation and enforcement;
• Represent the Commission in adjudicatory proceedings and litigation;
• Draft contracts and agreements;
• Develop and maintain appropriate applications and licensing forms;
• Draft, revise and analyze legislation, rules, regulations and policies;
• Prepare appropriate legal documents and review of all work to ensure technical accuracy, completeness and soundness of approach;
• Legal research and preparation of memoranda regarding topical issues for Commission consideration;
• Analyze and summarize cases and information pertinent to statutes, rules, regulations, policies and opinions relating to gaming, with an emphasis on commercial gaming operations;
• Maintain compliance with laws, including the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law, State Administrative Procedure Act, and Commission regulations;
• Assist with responses to Freedom of Information Law requests;
• Work with the New York State Office of the Attorney General, local District Attorneys and outside counsel on various issues including civil actions, criminal prosecutions, and intellectual property; and
• Assist in responding to subpoenas issued to the Commission.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school;
• Admission to, and a member in good standing of, the New York State Bar; and
• Minimum of two years of experience practicing law subsequent to New York State Bar admission.
• Background in litigation and contract drafting and analysis.

Essential Skills:

• Exceptional organization and analytical skills;
• Ability to handle multiple matters under pressure and deadlines;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to work independently;
• Excellent judgment and discretion in matters of confidentiality;
• Self-motivated by interesting work and successful results;
• Interest in supporting the Commission’s Mission Statement;
• Meticulous attention to detail and quality control;
• Proficiency in PC applications, such as Microsoft Office; and
• Commitment to public service and the highest integrity.

Eligibility for Employment: You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Benefits

HEALTH - A choice of comprehensive health insurance packages (including prescription drug coverage) is available to all employees and their dependents. They also receive the benefits of a dental insurance program and a vision care program.

LEAVE - Employees of New York State receive generous vacation, personal, sick, and family leave benefits, in addition to13 paid holidays annually.

RETIREMENT - Employees are required to contribute a specific percentage of their gross earnings, for all their years of public service after the date of membership. Employees are vested after five years. SAVINGS PLAN - Employees are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan in which taxes on contributions are deferred until retirement.

DEPENDENT CARE ADVANTAGE ACCOUNT - This program provides employees the opportunity to pay for childcare, eldercare, or other dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to these positions in State government requires candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This includes a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check including fingerprinting. The Commission will pay the fee for fingerprinting. All convictions must be disclosed. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.

Prior Employment Restrictions: The law that established the Commission (Section 107 of New York’s Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law) prohibits any person from being employed by the Commission if, during the period commencing three years prior to employment, such person held any interest in, or employment by, any corporation, association or person engaged in gaming activity with the State.

Prohibition against Playing and Wagering: Commission employees and family members residing in their households are prohibited from purchasing Lottery tickets or claiming Lottery prizes. Commission employees are prohibited from wagering upon any horseracing, commercial gaming, video lottery gaming, Indian gaming, charitable gaming activities, interactive fantasy sports, and mobile sports wagering within the State. To avoid any appearance of impropriety of conflict of interest, Commission employees will be prohibited from all aspects of promoting, operating, and playing in any charitable gaming, which includes bingo and games of chance such as raffles, whether the organization conducting the game is required to be licensed by the Commission. The prohibition placed upon each Commission employee from assisting with any charitable gaming does not apply to the employee's family unless the employee thinks it presents a conflict of interest related to his or her job duties. Commission employees must also avoid any outside activities that could interfere or be perceived to interfere with their job duties.

Outside Activities and Employment: It is the obligation of every employee of the NYS Gaming Commission to pursue a course of conduct that will not cause public concern as to whether such employee is engaged in activities in conflict with the public trust. It is vital that even the appearance of a conflict of interest be avoided in view of the critical nature of the Commission's responsibilities. In addition, employees should not use Gaming Commission equipment or supplies, or Gaming Commission time to pursue or engage in any such activities. All outside employment and volunteer activities must be approved by the Gaming Commission.

Post-Employment Restrictions: Post-employment restrictions apply to all State Officers and Employees subject to Public Officers Law Section 73. They apply to part-time and seasonal employees and apply equally regardless of the duration of employment while with New York State. For the two-year period immediately following separation from State service, former State Officers and Employees are prohibited from:

• Appearing or practicing, regardless of compensation, before their former agency, and
• Receiving compensation on behalf of a client in relation to a matter before their former agency.

State Officers and Employees may also be subject to a “reverse two-year bar” that requires State officers and employees to recuse themselves from matters involving their former private sector employers for two years after entering State service.

The “lifetime bar” prohibits a former State Officer or Employee from providing services, regardless of compensation, and from rendering services for compensation, in relation to any case, proceeding, application or transaction with respect to which the former employee was directly concerned and in which he or she personally participated, or which was under his or her active consideration while in State service.

How and Where to Apply

Email submissions are preferred. Please ensure that your documents are in Microsoft Word or PDF format. We are unable to open documents from Google Docs, Google Drive, OneDrive, and/or “the Cloud”.

To apply please send your resume and cover letter to:

hrrecruitment@gaming.ny.gov

Or fax to: 518-388-3368

Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis, and this position may be filled ahead of the posted deadline. Therefore, you are encouraged to submit your resume and interest as soon as possible.